Biology Degrees

What is Biology?

Biology is a natural science which involves the study of living organisms. It includes a study of the structure of living organisms, their function, growth, evolution, taxonomy and ecology. Biology is a very general field and is further divided into different areas like anatomy, bacteriology, ecology, entomology and ornithology among many other fields. Biology has a lot of applied value; and with an increase in health and environment concerns, there is no lack of work for biologists.

Featured Schools

Biology degrees are typically available at Associate, Bachelor, Master and doctorate levels. Some institutes may offer specific courses which may be taken to gain college credits or for career advancement.

What are the main courses we will be studying?

An Associate degree is more or less basic and will focus on the area of your interest. A bachelor degree, however, is more exhaustive and also incorporates a study of subjects like mathematics, chemistry and physics. Students in a bachelor degree program in Biology develop many skills that lend to them an analytical thinking pattern which aids them in careers such as research and development. Students are exposed to both theoretical learning in the classrooms and practical learning in laboratories.

A Masters degree in Biology is more research oriented. At the end of the program, students have to prepare a research thesis. Some theses are then published in biology and science journals. Students may also take up a project with the company they are working with and present a thesis report on that. This helps earn them their thesis credits as well as progress professionally at work.

Enrollments of this program

Enrollments % of this program

What are the concentrations or specializations in biology?

Biology is a broader term for a lot of disciplines. You may choose to take General Biology as your major or you could choose one of the many other fields that have branched out from Biology. Some of these fields are:

Biotechnology

Microbiology

Ornithology

Genetics

Forensic Science

Health and Nutrition

Botany

Marine Biology

Ecology

Oncology

These fields are very competitive professions in their own right and professionals with these degrees are very highly in demand. Some of these professions may need a license in order for a person to qualify practicing it.

What can you do with this degree?
With a degree in biology, you could work in various private and public institutions. Some of the sectors you could consider working in include: agriculture, agronomy, wildlife service, education, fisheries, forest service, bioinformatics and research. The job you may qualify for will depend on your area of specialization and interest. Here are some popular careers in biology along with the salary data provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics – BLS (2014):

Zoologist and wildlife biologist
Median annual income: $58,270

Biomedical engineer
Median annual income: $86,950

Forest and conservation technician
Median annual income: $35,260

Biologist scientist
Median annual income: $74,720

What careers can I pursue with a biology degree?
You can pursue a career in any field of biology that you have chosen. Biologists have a highly varied scope. They can work as researchers, journalists, lobbyists, conservationists and teachers. Researchers are doing a lot of work in biology currently. Genetics is a field of biology that has become particularly very popular in the last decade and which has led to groundbreaking innovations in health care. Oncologists are also very highly paid and work on solutions to cure cancer. Conservationists and environmentalists are also in great demand because of the increasing concern about environmental degradation.

Can I Earn an Online Biology Degree?
Yes, many accredited colleges now offer online degrees in biology. For a major part of these degrees, coursework is sent to students who have to study it and complete it before sending it back. Since biology is a subject that requires a lot of practical exposure, many courses have laboratory simulation studies to prepare the students for what lies ahead. Some degrees may also require the candidate to take an internship or some fieldwork to provide the necessary training.

States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State

Employment

Employment per thousand jobs

Location quotient

Hourly mean wage

Annual mean wage

California

1660

0.11

1.26

18.13

37720

Florida

1130

0.14

1.68

17.97

37370

Illinois

960

0.16

1.92

17.9

37240

Texas

760

0.07

0.78

16.62

34570

New York

650

0.07

0.85

20.12

41840

Source: bls.gov

IMPORTANT:The salary figures mentioned above are taken from Click Here

Frequently Asked Question(s)

Q:Can you tell me about the different areas of study in master's bio degrees?

A:Master's bio degrees are advanced graduate degree programs. Students can specialize in one of the many areas of biology that includes ecological and evolutionary biology, molecular biology and neurobiology biology and marine biology. These programs can be thesis based or non-thesis based, depending on the area that you want to focus on and the career path that you want to take up.

Q:What will be my career options after completing an online biology degree?

A:There are a number of career options available for those who have a biology degree. Biologists can work in various fields. They can become researchers, conservationists, journalists, lobbyists, and teachers. Genetics is also a growing field where biologists can work. You can also work as an environmentalist after acquiring a biology degree.

Q:Why is it better to go for a biology degree online accredited?

A:If you wish to go for a biology degree online, it is really important that you look for accredited programs. Accredited programs are approved the relevant accrediting agencies and meet the different quality standards. With an accredited program, you can be confident that you will acquire quality education. Employers also prefer graduates from accredited programs.